District



(NO MOdel!) @Sheets-Sheet 2.

A R. B. DASHIELL.

BRBEGH .LOADING ORDNANGB. No. 544,637. Patented Aug. 13,1895.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet; 3.

R. B. DASHIELL. BREBGH LGADING ORDNANGE. l l No. 544,637. Patented Aug.13, 1895.

} H! @gy/6. i "l 4 Sheets-She'et 4, R. B. D-ASHIELL. BRBEGH LOADINGORDNANOE.

Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

wi/meme@ Y UNiTED STATES ATnNT OFFICE.

ROBERT BROOKE DASHIELL, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNOR TO THEDRIGGSv ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. v

BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 544,637, dated August13, 1895.

Application le April 9, T895. Serial No. 545,102. (No moiieLl v To allwhom. 'it may concern.

' Be it known that I, ROBERT BROOKE DASH IELL', of the United StatesNavy, residing at iVashington, District of, Columbia,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance', ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to breech-loading .ordnance The object of theinvention' is4 to simplify the construction olA rapidre guns; also-tomake the breech mechanism compact and of few. parts; also. to swing thebreech-block of amutilated-screw,breech-gun to one side 'of thebcrc ofthe gun without first retracting it in line with'the bore; also toimprove the extractor and firing mechanism, and in varions ways toimprove the operating parts and combinations of mechanisrnsof thegeneral character hereinafter described.

My invention is herein 4described in -the best form known tonne, but iscapable of modification' in many respects without de;4 parting from thespirit of my invention.

It will be understood that I- do not in gen cralconiine myself to theforms and proportions shown, save as particularly specified in theclaims. I

Figure .1. is a rear elevation of the'breech of a gun according tothish'nvention. Fig. 2 isaside elevation of the breech portion of thesame gun. breech of a. gun, showing the breech mechanism, partly in planand partly in section, on

line 33 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a broken eleva-l tion of breech-plug andfiring-pin retractor, showing hub of carrier in section. Fig.`5 is across-section of breechplug. Fig. 6 is a plan, and Fig. 7 a partialsection and partial elevation, of thercartridge-extractor on 4line 7 7of 'Fig'. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan, and Fig. 9 a section on line 9, of the operatinglever.Fig. 10 is a broken horizontal section with breech-plug in' plan, breechpartly unlocked. Fig. ll is a similar broken section with breech open.Fig. 12 'is a rear elevation of the gun and breech-block 'withbreech-block carrier andbther paris omitted. InFigs. 1, 2, 12, and -14the gun is shown as modilied by having a Fig. 3 is a section of the.

proJectingpart between the arms of the carrier. In other figures thisprojection is omitted. Both constructions are feasible. Fig. 13 isaIside view of same parts. showing relative position of=brecchblock to gunwhen in open position. Fig. 14 is a sideelevation offbreechblock, andFg'..15 a front viewot the breech block. Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectionof the y rear part of the gun-body and breech-block open, other partsbeing omitted, the blockslightly outof contact with the gun. Eig. 17 isa rear perspective of the rear portion of the gun. Fig. 18 is averticallongitudinal sectionof the breech part ofthe gun, sho wn asin per.-spective. Fig. 19A is a broken horizontal section of breech part,showing engagement of operating-lever with thecarrier as well as thebreech-block. Fig. 20 is a. rear perspective of the gun and breechmechanism slightly modified to carry the lever and extractor above thecenter.- Fig. 21 is a rear-endpejrs'pecti ve of this modiication' ofAthe gun-body;

The gun-body 'is o t any usualv material,

eithensolid orbuilt up. The breech-block chamber 2 is provided withvscrew-threads in segments 3 3, each segment being abontoneeighth of thecircumference and being at topy 'l and bottom and at the sides of thebreechplug chamber. .Ehe mutilated-screw breech-plug 'B is of generallycylindrical form and has plane faces 1I, which are atthe top and bottomwhen the block is in unlocked positior in" the breechblock chamber. Theblockhas segmental threads 13 13, each segment covering` aboutforty-five degreesof its circumference, these segments beingcomplementary to those in the val! of the chamber 2, so that' when thebreech-plug is entered from the rear a rotation through an arc of'forty-live degrees will completely interlock the segmental threads-ofthe breech-block with .those of the gnu. One of the blank curved facesoff the breech-plug has an inclined or cam groove 12, in which4 Atialrotation, as will be described, and the threads may be continuons at theouter end vof this blank space. The breech-plug has a centralcylindrical chamber 15 for e rece'p.- tlon ot the hub on the carrier andthe' fix-inn- IOC ` Hr, frorii'which theplngswings,producing con-- cavesurfaces, as'ind-icated 'at 6 (S, Fig. 18, so

that when the breech-block is swung to the side it; will lie partiallyin 'a recess inthe breech of the gun. v

The recess 6 in the rear of the gan hs a. -gnidng-t`zlce 7, which entersbeti'veentwo of Ythe projecting segments 13 on thefhreech- )lock andprevents the rotation of thebreccl1- block while swinging sidewisew'ithlits carrier.-

'llte-gniding-face 7, as indicated'in full lines, Fig. 3, andindottedlinesT Figs. 10 and 11, is on acnrvc struck from the center G,0n which the breech-blockcarri'er. tnrns 'in' opening,r 'or closingr thebreech. The blank face 70 of the breech-block, which, is adjacent tothis guiding-'face 7 in opening and closing, is also forni-'ed on acnrvecomplementary to 'thati of the-'gniding-face 7,(see dotted lines, Fig.11,)-

so that in swinging to open or closed position thegnidefac 7 on the gun,facing nearlyl t0- waril the breech ejxd of the gun, serves as asupport, against which the cut-away part 70 of the breech-block ridessmoothly.

Whennot supported by thegun, the breechhlockis supported-by thebreech-block carrier C, which, as shown n the drawings, has

varms 21 extending forward from the carrier into the`recesses 5 in thegun, where thearms are pivoted to the pinlle G, nearly as far for- 'wardas their-ont of the breech-block when closed. 'l`he brecch:block Biisswiveled-to the carrier C, -prefe rably on a hub or projection 22 fromthe carrier entering the axial chamber .lof the brceehblock, so that theblock may rotate on its own' center by `turningfm said hnb whensupported by the carrier.

The carrier C has a broad face toward the rc-:wul the gun, which-In'ojccts beyond the edges of the hrceclrbloclf. and etfecti-iallycovex's all joints and, serves to exclude "inst fromv theclosc'd breech,

'lfhe'constrnction and relation of the carrieigbreechlblock, and gun aresnch, as indicated in Fig'. 11, thalswhenl thegcarrier is swnng ont andthe breech lopen the breech yblock issnpp'orted by 'the carrier, butitl-close contact withdthe rear of thcgnn,an ltwoseg' ments 13 ot' theln'eech-blockembrace the ripper and lower edges of theprojection pro-1vided with the "uielefaoe-on the. vunfsof n g vthat the breech-blockcannot rotate Qn ifs cenf 4inat'lc to preventthe rotation nl' the blockwhether the segments overhang the guido' face 7 o r not., andbythiscont'act a close joint is secured, preventing tlie. entrance" of(inst. 11)lhc construction is very compact'anrl ilnrae. rlhc gnidct'acc7v may bein part cnt. away by slot to make room for the operating-leveror extractor, or both,v Theparts will then lw so constructed as torestore Athe symmetry ol' the wholeand preserve the functional relation`of the breech-block to thegnn-body. "lhn roar end of the gun Amayberccessel. usal l; t o

receive thc extractor.

The upper and lower mutilated screw-sry.:- nientsB are cnt away slightlytoward the rearot the gun, as'atv?, in the arc ot thcswingingmovementofthe breeclirblockl, the ends of the threads then presentingcurved hcnringor guiding shoulders, against which the`thrcmlselfments ofthe plug will 'tin'il hearing 'lnring the swinging niove'mcntof tlie1'ii1g,tlxiis permittingthel swinging movement of. tho breech-blockin'opening to begin as soon as vthe screwdhreadsfare unlocked, orwithout d rawing'tlie breeclrblockdirectly to the rear, as in the common'forni of inntilated-screw .breech-block. .The strength of materiallost;

.by this cutting away of segments 3 isg-very slight. The' reverseconstruction, whereby the segments of the breech-block may` bo strucktrom the curves of t-n'eswing-n'g move.-

inent of the block', is considered an equivalent.

The hand-lever Dis also pivoter] on the pi-'ntlo G and within the slotit in the gnnfwall. 'This lever is a bell-crank and has an arln 3l, ex:tending throng-h the slot 4, terminatingA in a toe 32, which enteisthecani-'groove 1.2 in lthe breech-block. The lever D- will havea snitableoperatinglhandie, as 33, which may hc of any approved form.

The cam-grcove'w extends obliqnely or spirally from near the front: ofthe brecclrbloek toward the rear, and is also shown (dott-eil ICOlines,"Fig. 10) as cut away vin a' curve in 1on git'ndinal direction,which is calculated frorn 1 ,I

the-center G,'so that .the to'e B2 of `the lever toe 32 oftheoperatingJever is at-'the front" l end. of cam-groove12. 'B y swingingthe lever D backward its toe 32 moves along the cam-1 groove' 12, and asthe interlocking screwlthreads prevent the breech-block from movinf';directly backward thel block will turn on its center until thesegment-al threads are unlocked, the toe xnovingjnjan are varonntty y-its pintle' G.- At; the completion of th'e nn- -locking novementtwo ofthe segments 13 on the breech-block-are in alignment with the vupper andlower faces of the guide-surface andpret'ernbly thetoe 32 will havereached a bearingvat the end of slot 12.y A continuation ci' theswinging movementf lever D carries the toe 32 toward the side of the`gun and swings the breech-block in its carrier tc.-

.open nosition, Fig. 11, the'breech-bloolrbeing supported by the carrierwhen so swung open. The arm 31V may strike the carrier at about theinstant of completing the rotation of the breech-block.

in closing the breech, the block being prevented from rotation by the`engagement of the segnientsjfa'br face 70 with guide 7, as described, abackward pull or swing of the handle 33 iu usual manner first swings thebloc'k and carrier to nearly closed position, and then partly rotatesthe block on its center Ato engagethe segmental threads.

As the breech-block has practically no direct longitudinal movement themechanism is very compact, and as the usual -backward movement of thebreech-block is dispensed withgreat rapidity of movement is had` rIhefiring-pini? is carried in a recess in the hub 22 of .thecarrer and hasa pin 41, which enters the vgroove 16 in. the breech-block. This groove16 is a triangular cam-groove, as shown in Fig. 5. Vhen the breech-blockrotates onits axial center, as the firing-pin isA held .from rotation bythe hub of the carrier, the inclined side of groove 16 moves along the.pin- 41, thus forcing the firing-pin -baclnward against the resistanceof spring/42, which spring has its bearings against the carrier and ashoulder or odset on the tiring-pin.

The tiring-pin F has a notch 43at one side, and the trigger or sear`44is pressed toward the firing-pin by a spring, as-45. (See Figs. 3 and4.) When the firing-pin has been drawn back by vtherotationof thebreechblock, as described, the pin will becaughtby trigger 44 and heldin cocked position. Even it the trigger should bereleased the iii-ingpincould not move forward while the pin 4l is oppositethe shoulder 17 onthe Abreechblock; but o'i closing and locking the breech thestraightslot 18 is brought in line with the projection 41 of thefiring-piu, and' then a movement which disengages the trigger 44 fromthe tiring-pin permits spring 42 to drive the firing-pin forward, and inthis manner the gun is fired. `The trigger 44 may be pulled by a lanyardor in any Aother convenient manner. I 'The extractor' E is preferablybelow .the opening 51 in the extractor, through which pintle G passes isoblong, to permit a lever-` movement of the extractor across the fulcrum9in the wall of the gun. cam cr abutment 24, which engages a jaw 54 onthe extractor as the lever is swung tosthe rear., 'lhis cam rocks theextractor on its fulcrum'9 and forces back the cartridge shell K, withwhich the nib 55. of. the extractor engages wiih av powerful leveragewhile the breech-bloeit is startin g rearward. When the breech-block hasmoved to one side far enough to be out' of the way ofthe shell, the toe36 of the lei-'er-strikes abutment 56 of the extractor, and the entireweight of the breech-block and carrier then acts to rock theextractorquickly pivoted in theslot 4,

- to"swing open on a pivoted operating-handle. The

The lever D has a on the piutle G and throw the shell backward. Areverse movement of the lever rocks the extractor forward by means ofthe cam engagementbetween the lever and the extractor. The bar 57 of theextractorcan be made elastic, so that the extractor will spring underthe ange of a shell already inthe gun, as is conimon with extractors forsmall-arms.

' As the breech-block is somewhat larger than the head of the cartridge,the cartridge-head .is fully covered when the breech is closed,

while the plane faces on the block permit the swinging retraction withless cutting away of the gun than would otherwise be the case. The planefaces of the breech-block permit the swinging movement of the-block withits carrier immediately after the block is un.-

' locked.

Changes of detail and modification of parte can be made y cal skillwithout departure from the real' invention. r

' The pintlemay be readily connected to the operating-lever by a, keyand made to operate a supplementary extractoror' extractors by cams orotherwise.

I am aware that truste-conical breech-plugs on the mutilated-screwsystem have been m ade carrierl from closed (but unlocked) position.ri`he frustoconical form of breech-bloei: permits this; .but there arepractical difiiculties in the way 0E con` struction of frustolconicalbreech mechanism which make that form objectionable in many instances.

-I am also awaref'that a cylindrical breech mechanism of themutilated-screw form has bythe exercise ot usual mechani;

been devised wherein the breech v-plug has but two thread-segments? andflattened sides, in which the plug swings open through aslot in the sideof 'the gun. This form has some'obje'ctions on account of theconsiderable cutting away bothbi gun and breech-plug- I( am familiarwith ordnance as constructed in this and other-countries, and am awarethat nearly every system has itsown ad van tages and disadvantages. Thesystem i have devised and described above removes Some objectionsheretofore existing without, so far as I am aware, adding to be a markedimprovement, especially in rapid-fire guns What I claim i's-`- 1.Inbreech loading ordnance, the gun bodyhaving a curved bearingfaee, asdescribed,

others, and I-belev'e it the breech block carrier, and the breech blockswiveled to said carrier andv in contact with the curved bearing faceonthe gun while swingingto open or closed. position.all comf. binedsubstantially as described.

ist4

2. In breechloadingordnance, the gun body' having a curved guidingsurface at its rear.t the swinging breech.. block carrier connected tothe gun, and the mutilated screw breech carried by said carrier, and.having shoulders engaging said guiding surface o prevent the rotationolf the' ln-cech lwhile the carrier is' -swiirging'on its-]-ii1tle,incombination sulstantiallyas descr-ined.

\'I.l. ln n. breech loading gun, the recessed body,.tl|e cylindricalbreech bloeit chamber having four cylindrical segments of scre\\ threadsarranged .respect i rely at thc topland bottom vandfopposite sides ofsaid chamber, thc generally cylindrical infedeli plug .su-iin cled to acarrier and hnvingl'our segments. ot'

screw-'threads complementary to those of thegn'n, and having an inclinedor com groove in oncsidc of the body of the plug and extend- -zngmezxrlytothe' front of vsaid plug, and the operating lever pivoted in therecess in the gun bod y and extending into the cam groove in the plxig,.i\`ll combined substantially as described. v

block, ench'having interrupted screw segments, of t-wosegments onopposite sides cnt away on cur-ves :struck from the pivotal eenterA 'onwhichy the block trnnsin'openinf.,r and closing, the correspon dingrsegments on 'the bleek and'gnn engaging on these curved fee-es As theblock swings about said pivotal ceiite i,.

. substantiallyes described.v

5. .The combination withv therecessed gunvand the pivotcd carrier towhich said block is swlveled, ot' the opera-ting lever pivote'd to thegun and having direct engagement with the breech bloeit to rotate ythesame, and a' guidesurl-'aee on the gun engaging the breech blocksubstantially as. described vtoprevent rotation of' the' breech blockwhileswinging .with its carrier, as set forth.

'1'. In breech loading ordnance, the gun,

' having a curved bearing surface facing generally toward the rear, thebreech block carrier pivoted to the gun, andthe breech block swiveled tothe carrier and having abearing against; the said bearing surface on thegun during the sii-inging movement of the carrier, 'all combined-substan'tially'as described.

8. The, gun havin g a curved bearing 'face at its rear, the breech blockcarrier pivoted to the gun, the breech block swiveled on said carrier,and the operating lever pivoted to. the gun and engaging said breechblock end .car-v rior, all combined substantially. as described.v

tl.4 In breech loading guns, the combinw tion of the recessed gunbody'having thread segments therein cut away on4 arcs lstruck from thecenterof swinging movement-of the plug, so as to have end bearingshoulders, the breech plug havinga cam groove 1n one-s1de, and theleverpivoted in the recess of the gun 'and having a cam groove in its side,and cx-V tending nearly'to the -lront thereof so `as to be within thewalls of the gimwhcn the breech plugis closed, the toe ot the lev'crextending through the slot in the gnu and engaging the scid --gr'oove inthe'breech block, all combined substantially nsdescrbed.

' 1l. .The brocoli block having a caingroove in its side said grooveextendnglina'curve struck from the pivot of the operatinglever,

'the lever pivoted to the gun and having its toe entering said groove,and the carrierpv" oted rto and all combined stantially as described.

12. In' breech .loading ordnance, the gnu', the extractor having afulcrum on,` and said extractor bearingjdfrectly against the body ofsaid gun, and a bearing surface on the breech with the gun, subi"mechanism engaging said extractor to' ttirn"A I' the same on its fulcrumas the breech opens;

13. In breech loading ordnance, the gun, I. breech block, endoperatinglever, thev eX-A -tractor vpivotedin the breech and liavingn.

fuleruin on the gun proper, andthe operating surfaces on the'leverengaging the extractor to frs't rock it..o'n its fulcrnm and then turnit on its pivot; all combined substantially as described. f N f 14.. Inbreech loading ordnance, the combination with the gun, of the extractorloosely pivofed thereto and having a fulcrum thereon, and thebreech'operating mechanism engaging the extractor as described to.first-rock les' iton its tnlcrnin and then turn it on its pivot asdescribed. l '15. In breech loading ordnance, .the combiand away fromthe fulcru m, all substantially nation of the gun and, itsbreech block,the v operating lever pivoted to the gun, the cartridge extractorloosely pivoted on same pintle 'as the lever, nd' having a fnlcruinagainst the bodyvcf the gun and thecain and shoulder on the leverengaging 'thc extractor (to first rock the .extractor on. itsfulcrum andthen turn it on its pivot) all substantially asgdescribed.'

16. The gun-'having a mutilated screw breech seat, and a. convex bearingsurface at.

its rear on a curve struck fromtheY center of thesvvinging movementofthe breech in openrio .UStl

in'g and closing, combined wit-11. the breech- I block hnvinga.correspondln g bearing surface between it'sascrewsegments, and a.suitable carrier, all substantially as described.

` 17.J Thebreech Vblock segmental threads'substantially as described,..plan'e faces'onoppositc sides between the segments, anda curved' face'havingan operating cam thereon' said faces being at rightnngles .to theplane faces, and between the segments, substntially as described.

for ordnance having 18. The breech block for ordnance having segmentalthreads snbsizsintiallj7 as described, plane faces on opposite sidesbetween the segments, a curved face between two of thesegments, andmeans for moving saidbreech in the gun, in combination; substantially asde scribed.

.19. In breech loading ordnance, the combination with the gun and a.breech 1block carrier pivoted thereto, of the mutilated screwbreechblock on said carrier having a. side cui;- awnylongitndinally ina. curve drawn from the pivotal support of the carrier.

20. In breecnloadingordnance, the gun, the breech block` carrierpivotally connected `theretoend having a dosed-rear 'face piece coveringand projecting beyond the edges of the breech block', which block sswveled thereto, ali combined substantially as described.

2l. In breech 10Min" ordnance, the gun,

the carrier having acentral hub projecting therefrom, said hnb having aslot therein, t-h'e Aiii-ing pin and spring in said slot, the breechblock swiveled onsaid hub and having a ca'm to engage the tiring pin tocock the same, and

- a. trigger or- Sear engaging said iirin g pin, substantiallyas'described.

22. The combination with the gun and the carrier having a. central huband the breech block swiveled'thereon, of the tiring pin and spring in arecess in said hub, the cooking cam on the breech block, the triggerengag- .ing anotch'in the side of the 'firingr pin, and

the spring acting against said trigger, all com binei substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aix my signctizre

